Notes from Regular Board meeting Monday, September 22nd:

– Sarah Costain was absent. Costain has missed 1/3 of all Regular Board meetings since she took her seat in January.

– Eric Lawson, Eric Hanson, Monica Dzieinski and AJ MacArthur needed reminding that their vote to award a contract to a higher bidder on an asphalt project in January was against state law, risked a lawsuit, and most likely will result in higher costs on future bidding projects.

– Following a detailed explanation of the bidding process, MacArthur forwarded a false claim that the January asphalt lowest bid and the second lowest bid were for the same dollar amount. APS Facilities Supervisor corrected MacAurthur’s claim.

– Dziesinski forwarded an additional false claim that there was discussion the lowest bidder could have changed his bid price after the project was started. Clear evidence Dziesinski still does not understand the bidding process. She also was corrected.

– Dziesinski and MacArthur continued to claim they should be able to award contracts as they choose.

– Lawson premiered an extensive list of new rules surrounding public comment time and threatened to have law enforcement remove anyone who is in violation. It is noted that some of the rules violate First Amendment Rights. Lawson has two law enforcement personnel stationed at the meetings to carry out his orders to physically remove people, if necessary. Clapping, in particular, is not allowed.

– MacArthur used school board meeting time to complain that his business is being boycotted by community members who object to decisions he has made while on the school board. MacArthur feels this constitutes harrassment.

– The board discussed new wording to the Social Media Policy that does not improve understanding or application of the policy, but required expensive legal review.

The school board, “at work.”

Cathy Goike

Alpena